Plate whirler



Feb. 16, 1954 J. D. MAXWELL 2,669,216

PLATE WHIRLER Filed Nov. 10, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JQHN D. MAX WELL BY )7 W9 9 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 16, 1954 J. D. MAXWELL PLATE WHIRLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 10, 1949 INVENTOR. JOHN D. MAxwaL 1954 I J. D. MAXWE LL ,669,2 6

I PLATE WHIRLER Filed Nov. 10, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOHN D. MAXWELL A TTORNE Y5 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 PLATE WHIRLER John D.'Maxwell, Glen Head, N. Y., assignor to Powers Chemco, Inc., a corporation of New York Application November 10, 1949, Serial No. 126,466

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for evenly distributing and drying a wet coating on the surface of a flat plate, such as the sensitive coating on photo-engraving plates.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth'in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical central section through the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the apparatus with certain parts shown in top plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section in plan aspect of the central portion of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken along the lines 1-1 of Fig. 2 and showing a characteristic movement of a portion of the apparatus; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 6.

One object of the invention is to provide convenient means for supporting plates of various sizes to be whirled, coated, and dried. Another object is to provide convenient means for coating and drying plates with a sensitive film with either the face or back of the plate toward the heat source, and means for automatically changing the speed of rotation of the plate depending upon which position the plate is in. A further object is to provide automatic braking means for slowing rotation of the plate being dried as it is moved from one position to the other.

Other objects and advantages of operation will appear to those skilled in the art upon study of the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly 2 to Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a cylindrical shell Ill having a conical continuation l I extending downward from its lower edge. The shell I!) is encased within an outer casing I2 of generally cubic shape.

A rotatable shaft [3 is journalled at opposite points of the shell l0 and is actuated by handle 14. Mounted at the approximate center of shaft l3, and secured against relative rotation therewith, is a plate holding and whirling assembly including plate-gripping jaws l6 and friction gear tracks l1 and I8, adapted to be driven by friction gears 11' and I8 respectively.

The jaws l6 are equally step-notched so as to enable various sized lates to be gripped by them. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the jaws l6 are normally urged toward each other by springs 20. As will be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the jaws 16 are arranged as a spaced integrally joined pair of jaws 16a and 16b on either side of the gear tracks I! and I8. They are so spaced and joined by plates is and IS. The jaws I3 are moved away from each other, against the tension of springs 20, by depression of the foot treadle 22. This action draws chain 23 over pulleys 24.

This movement causes lug 26 to engage with lug 21 and urge it and the pair of jaws lGa or 16b to which it is integrally attached to move away from the axes of rotation. Lug 26 is normally urged toward the axes of rotation by spring 28. Spring 28 is connected on one end to plate 29 on the end of chain 23 and on the other on eye bolt 3| fixed in journal housing 25. This movement causes the opposite pair of jaws lBa to move complementarily away from jaws Nib by means of the double lever arrangement 30 shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. A plate is inserted between jaws I6, the treadle 22 is released and the plate is gripped firmly by the jaws l6.

' The plate whirling assembly including the jaws l6 and gear tracks I! and I8 rotate in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis 32 shown in Figs. 1-4. The whirling assembly is also rotatable about a horizontal axis 33 for moving the assembly from an upward facing to a downward facing position as shown in Fig. 1. The horizontal axis 33 runs through the axial center of shaft 13 and the vertical axis 32 runs through the axial center of shaft 35. These respective axes are at right angles to each other but are offset from each other. Thus, when the plate whirling assembly is in faceup position the vertical axis 32 will be on the side of the horizontal axis 33, as shown in Fig, 1; permitting gear 11' to'engage gear track ",whil

gear l8 will not engage track 18. When-the whirling assembly is rotated to the face-down position, also as shown in Fig. l, the vertical axis 32 will still be offset from the horizontal axis 33 but in a different plane than in the face-up position. This will permit gear 18' to engage track [8. The gear ratio of gear I? to track I! is about 1 to 5, while that of gear E8 to track I8 is about 2 to 5. This will enable plates held in the face-down position to be whirled at 'much higher speeds.

As shown in Fig. 4, the vertical shaft 35 is mounted in a bearing block 36 common to it and horizontal shaft l3, by means of roller bearing 33 and pin 39. The shaft 35 is bolted to the upper portion of the whirling assembly through an integral flange 40.

Friction gears l1 and I8 are driven in the following manner. An electric motor 4'5, as shown in Fig. 1, drives vertical shaft 46 through a red-ucer 4?. Vertical shaft 46 in turn drives horisontal shaft 48 by means of bevel gears 50. At "the other end of shaft '48 from the bevel gears ii!) are the friction gears I1 and 18'.

Located in the bottom center of 'the conical portion i I is a gas burner 52 which is actuated by a solenoid valve 53. This valve is actuated 'by the timer iii" in such a fashion that operation of switch 54 provides a longer time interval for copper plates than that provided for zinc plates. lt iountedne'ar switch 54 is starter 55 which'starts electric motor "45 and timer 51.

In turning awhirli'ng plate from a face-up to a f'ace-down position, braking means are provided As shown in Fig. 2, these consist of a {pair of fixed "shafts "to carrying brake shoes 6|.

The braking means are shownin enlarged detail in Fig. '7. The brake -shoe BI is secured to a block 6-3 mounted on 'a plunger which is springably urged away from shaft "50 by means of spring 85 mounted within shaft 60.

When the gear track member is rotated fro'rn face-down -to face-up position, or vice versa, gear track *1? "will bear against brake'shoebl, causing a braking action'on the rotation of the 'whirler assembly. Obviouslythe v'vhiflel'fi's rotatin freely When it'is in a substantially horizontal posimen.

In Fig. 6 is shown aslopcover to prevent drippings from the whirled 'plate "from falling on the chain 23 and otherinovi'ng parts directly under it. Fig. '8 also shows the sl6p cover 10 and its relation 'to the'chain'23.

The construction and operation of the double lever arrangement 30 is as follows. 'In Figs/3 and 4 are two facing circular plates 13 "and T4 journalled about housing l5. These plates jhave connecting bars attached to them in thefollow ing m'anner. 'Bar30a is pivotally attachedto the upper portion ofplate l9 and the upper person of plate '13. Bar =30b is pivotally attached to the upper portion of "plate I9 and theupper'pon tion of plate '13. Bars 300 and 30d 'aresimilarly attached to thelower sides of'plates I9 and I9 and the lower side of plate 14. Thus, when'plat'e member i9 is drawn away froi'n the axis of rotation, bars'fifia and 30c will cause plates 13 "and 7'4 to rotate in opposite directions thuscausing' bars 3flb and 30d to push plate I 9 away from" the a-Xis'of rotation,causing jaws l'fi to move equally away from each other. v

The method of operating the apparatus may be as "follows: r

The operator approaches the machine with a cleanplate P "while it is still wet'fi'omcleaning. He places the'plate thema'chi'ne where it is gripped by the jaws I6, starts the motor 45, whirling the plate face up, and pours the required quantity of coating on the wet plate. He then turns handle [4 inverting the plate to a facedown position where it runs at the higher speed, throws an excessive coating and is gradually dried, while still in a face-down position. In some instances the machine is set so that when the gas is turned the timer starts when the plate P is reversed, but the machine is perfectly useable and may be manufactured in either form.

Because of the offset of the vertical axis 32 hem the horizontal axis 33, and the braking means 6t, BI -it is possible to change the speed or rotation of the plate or its facing position without stopping the motor 45 or burner 52.

The timer- 5'? automatically stops the motor 45 and burner 52, and the plate comes to rest. The treadle -22 is then depressed, releasing the grip of jaws It on the plate P and permitting its removal.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and 'without sacrificing its chief advanta'ge.

What is claimed is:

'1. in a ph'o'to'engra'vefs plate :w'hii'ler, the combination of a holder for rotatably 'suppor ting a plate to be coated and then dried, a circular friction surface on the side of said holder apposite the side where the plate is held, the circular friction surface comprisingtwo concentric tracks, a pivotally'inountedbearing in which the holder r'otatabl'y journall'e'd, the .pivotal iris being "at right angles to the axis of rotation but oiis'et therefrom, so that 'theholder may 'be from one horizontal position with the side where the plate is held uppermost to another 'h'ori'z'oiltalpositioh with the side where theplate is held lowermost, and two driven friction wheels one of'which is engageableviithohe of-said tracks and the other with the other tr'ack'to drive the holder at different speed when the holder'is in one or the 'other'o'f it's hori'zontal'p'ds'itions. I

2. A plate whirler as'claimed in claim "1 in which thetwo friction "wheeis'are mounted-on a common driven shaft at right angles "toboth th'e pivotal and rotationafaxes.

8. In a plate whirler the combination (if a holder for "rotatably supporting a lplatjefto be coated and then dried, a shaft on which "the holder is mounted, a pivotal bearing for the shaft, said pivotal bearing being offset "relatively to said shaft but atright'a'nglesthereto, a pair of concentric circular tracks on the side of said holder opposite the 's'ide'where the plate is to'be held, and 'a'sh'aft having "spaced driven'fii'ction wheels thereon, one wheel 'engageable with one track in one horizontal "position of the holder and the other wheel engageablewitn the other track in inverted position of the holder.

4. A plate 'Whirler as -c'lain'ied in claim 3 "in wh'ich the holder has radially movable jaws, resilie'ntly urged towards each other and "interconnected to move equally'towardsand'from'th'e center, and means 'engageable with'a jaw with the holder in its upper 'positi'onfor moving said jaws apart. I t t 5. A plate whirleras claimedin claim -4fin which a friction membe resiliently engages the holder, as it is inverted; for slowing rotation of the holder.

nections of said bars to said plates being adapted to rotate said plates in opposite directions when one jaw is moved away from the other thus causing the other jaw to be equally displaced.

JOHN D. MAXWELL.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 907,365 Huebner Dec. 22, 1908 2,218,165 Gaebel Oct. 15, 1940 

